On September 11th, the closing ceremony of the project AID 12089 BioForMoz – Support for Environmental Research, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) for the period 2021-2024, took place at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM). The event was attended by, among others, the Italian Ambassador to Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, the Rector of UEM, Manuel Guilhermo Junior, the Director of AICS-Maputo, Paolo Enrico Sertoli, and the Director of the UEM Biotechnology Center, Luciana de Araújo.
The project, which began in July 2021, was implemented by the UEM Biotechnology Center in partnership with a consortium of Italian universities, led by the University of Sassari. The main objective of BioForMoz was to build the capacity of researchers and lecturers from UEM’s biomedical institutions and to develop a network of infrastructure and excellent laboratories in some UEM centers (in particular, the Biotechnology Center and the Museum of Natural History). These infrastructures have played an essential role in producing scientific research, innovation, and providing services aimed at solving environmental and health problems in Mozambique.
During the ceremony, the main results achieved by the project were highlighted, including the awarding of 28 scholarships for Master’s and Doctoral studies to young Mozambicans. Some of the studies funded by these scholarships addressed, for instance, the analysis of the prevalence of cholera in Sofala province after Cyclone Idai, as well as the genetic evaluation of African buffalo in the country.
The creation of the BioBank for biodiversity conservation, which currently houses over 200 aquatic species and 100 terrestrial species, was also highlighted, constituting an important resource for the preservation of Mozambican biodiversity. Additionally, the development of laboratory infrastructure on Inhaca Island was mentioned. This space will allow the investigation of Inhaca Island’s unique biodiversity, which is home to the southernmost coral reef in the world, by Mozambican and international scientists.
The Italian Ambassador to Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, emphasized the importance of investing in scientific research, stating that “the most advanced countries are those that invest heavily in this sector.” Bardini further stressed that, despite the project’s closure, its impacts will endure thanks to the network of relationships established between UEM and prestigious Italian universities, such as Sapienza, Genoa, Sassari, Parma, as well as Italy’s Water Research Institute. The Ambassador also emphasized the need for universities not to be seen as “ivory towers” distant from the community. “We must seize all opportunities to connect academic research to job creation and services for the population,” he said, citing the creation of jobs in Mozambique’s reserves and parks as an example.
The UEM Rector, Manuel Júnior, praised the project’s “remarkable contribution” to institutional capacity-building, highlighting the accreditation of laboratories and the advancements in quality control of food, water, and the environment, in accordance with international standards. The Rector expressed particular satisfaction with the fact that over 80% of the scholarships were awarded to women, recognizing the importance of female participation in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as a way to promote gender equality.
The closure of the BioForMoz project marks the end of one phase, but AICS’s efforts to promote biodiversity in Mozambique continue, with initiatives such as the rehabilitation of the Museum of Natural History and the new project in Chimanimani National Park. This sees the Biotechnology Center as a partner in the consortium of universities that will implement the program, further marking the transition from being a beneficiary of Italian cooperation actions to becoming an implementing entity. It is also important to remember that the center, through the RINO program, is currently providing consulting services to Mozambique’s criminal police, with laboratory training for forensic technicians aimed at combating crimes committed against the country’s biodiversity.
Finally, thanks to the support of Italian cooperation, which helped elevate the center to a reference institute, it is worth noting that since 2019, it has been part of the Enhancing Research for Africa Network, promoted by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise.
